Stories Untold.
Not every detail fits within the boundaries of an episode. Over two decades, I shared unique moments with surgeons, tycoons, and government leaders—people who carried the burdens of influence, power, and hidden truths.
Take a look at those interactions, adding vivid memories to Power. From Manila to Mumbai, Saigon to Seoul — whispered truths, off the record but never off target.”.
Welcome to Snippets.
Episode 3
King’s Cross
American soldiers flocked to Sydney for a break from combat during those nightmarish late ‘60s and early ‘70s Vietnam War years. Aussie soldiers were our mates in previous international conflicts. I trained with them at Fort Benning, home of the US Infantry in Georgia. I imagined how inviting King’s Cross, a place of revelry, must have been for American soldiers after trudging through rice fields, armed with hand grenades and M-16 rifles. They were welcomed in Sydney with open arms.
I quietly strolled through The Cross with purpose, retracing their footsteps—it reminded me how fortunate I’d been in my service to the country, serving in a non-combat role.
Episode 3
Boomerang
Beyond product training and sales forecasts, stories flowed—some business, some pure adventure. Back at the South Coast Plaza Hotel in Costa Mesa, fueled by camaraderie (and a few drinks), I decided to impress my roommate, Tony Yeykal, with an authentic Aboriginal boomerang. From our balcony, twenty floors up, I demonstrated my skills. Or so I thought. The boomerang veered off course, striking a guest room door ten floors below instead of completing its full arc. “Doc” didn’t miss a beat, suggesting I change my name to Tom after that bit of tomfoolery. When you hit your sales targets, the rounds of drinks kept coming, and your mates buy your stories no matter how outrageous they sound. My boomerang missed its mark, but my numbers? Spot-on.
Episode 3
The Murder of Alimurung
Before departing Manila, news broke from the US that the President of the Philippine Heart Association had been found murdered in his hotel room at the American Heart Association meeting in Miami Beach, Florida. Dr. Mariano Alimurung was discovered hands tied, with strangulation as the cause of death. Considered to be a powerful rising star in the field of cardiology, this murder sent shock waves reverberating through the country. He had close relations with President Marcos and had buying power related to equipment for the Heart Center. No arrests were made for his murder, and speculation ran rampant as to why.
He shared a fascinating story of a CABG operation Barratt-Boyes performed on the “Cigarette King,” Mr. Surya Wonowidjojo from Kediri. Since Hilless assisted in the operation, he was assigned to look after Surya in intensive care. Besides a significant surgical fee, Sir Brian was gifted a diamond-encrusted Rolex as a thank-you. Wearing a less expensive Rolex model he received for assisting, Allan described how Mr. Surya arrived in a private plane with a personal physician, staff, and gifts to disburse to the operative and nursing teams. The nuns were delighted when he presented the private Mater Hospital with TVs for their various departments. He also distributed packets of his Gudang Garam brand of ‘fags’ full of cloves —aka Kretek. They were hyped as less toxic to one’s health than regular cigarettes. I learned later Surya returned to Auckland with a recurrence of his coronary disease. Very little could be done to save him at that point. Sir Brian was a heavy smoker, and despite his first coronary bypass surgery at age 50, he struggled to quit.
Episode 3
The Cigarette King
He shared a fascinating story of a CABG operation Barratt-Boyes performed on the “Cigarette King,” Mr. Surya Wonowidjojo from Kediri. Since Hilless assisted in the operation, he was assigned to look after Surya in intensive care. Besides a significant surgical fee, Sir Brian was gifted a diamond-encrusted Rolex as a thank-you. Wearing a less expensive Rolex model he received for assisting, Allan described how Mr. Surya arrived in a private plane with a personal physician, staff, and gifts to disburse to the operative and nursing teams. The nuns were delighted when he presented the private Mater Hospital with TVs for their various departments. He also distributed packets of his Gudang Garam brand of ‘fags’ full of cloves —aka Kretek. They were hyped as less toxic to one’s health than regular cigarettes. I learned later Surya returned to Auckland with a recurrence of his coronary disease. Very little could be done to save him at that point. Sir Brian was a heavy smoker, and despite his first coronary bypass surgery at age 50, he struggled to quit.
Episode 3
Dal Lake with Dr. Buckberg
With the Congress closing that evening, Dr. Buckberg (Sometimes referring to himself as “Uncle Bucky”) and Dr. Cooley wanted to purchase Kashmiri rugs for their fine homes in Los Angeles and Houston. Staying at the Sheraton Hotel, the rug emporium caught our attention by offering a free shipping service for large purchases. The wealthy Houstonian spent nearly $10,000 and Gerry a little over $5000 for carpets that would cost three times that in America. I didn’t want to be left out and purchased a small throw rug for under a hundred bucks. Mr. Dean Shaw, the owner, brimmed with joy and offered the three of us a four-night stay on a Shikara (a houseboat) he owned on Lake Dal in Srinagar. Cooley told Shaw he would be departing THAT evening for Houston.
Dr. Buckberg with a serious look on his face said, “Rue, are you up for a little adventure?”
The next day, at eight a.m., we were on a flight headed north for a cultural experience in one of India's most beautiful and disputed provinces, Jammu and Kashmir. India, Pakistan, and China all claimed parts of “J&K,” as the residents called it. Our personal and career-directed talks meshed with our evolving life stories. Over the next four days, we shared our shenanigans, achievements, ambitions, and ribald stories on an ornate craft away from big city confusion.
Having an onboard attendant at our beck and call nearly floored me when I realized he came included with the houseboat.
